For the first time in his career, Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy.

Rask was an obvious candidate. He lead the NHL with seven shutouts, had the best save percentage (.930) among goalies with more than 30 starts and the best goals-against average (2.04) among those with at least 50 starts.

In his second full year as a starter but first non-lockout season, the slender Rask showed he was capable of handling it. He played some of his best hockey down the stretch. After leading Finland to a bronze medal at the Olympics, the 27-year-old Finn went 11-2-2 with a 1.83 GAA and .935 save percentage with two shutouts.

The other two candidates are Semyon Varlamov of the Avalanche and Ben Bishop of the Lightning. Varlamov led the NHL with 41 wins and faced the most shots in the NHL (2,013), becoming the key piece of a surprising Colorado team that beat out the Blues and Blackhawks for the Central Division title. Before suffering a wrist injury that kept him out of the playoffs, Bishop set Tampa Bay records with a .924 save percentage and 37 wins.

Rask would join Tiny Thompson, Frank Brimsek, Pete Peeters and Tim Thomas as Vezina winners from the Bruins. If Rask won, it would be the team's third Vezina Trophy in six years after Thomas won in 2009 and 2011.

The winner will be announced at the NHL awards show in Las Vegas on June 24. Patrice Bergeron has already been named a finalist for the Selke Trophy, and Zdeno Chara is expected to be a finalist for the Norris Trophy.